Combined cable wiper and splash shield



Patented June 23, 1953 OFFICE COMBINED CABLE WIPER AND SPLASH SHIELD Lawrence B. Collins, Orange, and Clinton A. Langstafi, Compton, Calif.

Application July 19, 1948, Serial No. 39,548

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a combined splash shield and cable wiper and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a device of t kind adapted to be supported within a well casing at deck fioor level to receive a bailer or other tool when lifted up into the device, so that the device with the bailer or other tool therein may be lifted clear of the deck floor and lowered to the derrick floor for dumping of the bailer or other purpose depending upon the character of the tool, the device through the lifting and lowering movements effectively shielding against splash.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of the kind embodying means whereby the device automatically looks when in working position and wherein the same unlocks as aresult of upward impact thereon of a bailer or other tool as it is lifted out of the well cas- The invention has for a further object to provide a device of this kind wherein certain of the parts are collapsible to facilitate moving of the device from one operation to another.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination of the several parts of my improved combined shield and cable wiper, whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional View with parts in elevation illustrating a shield and wiper constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View taken Substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the device comprises two telescoping tubular members P and M, open at their opposite ends and which, when extended, are of a combined length substantially co-extensive in length with a bailer B or other deep well tool to be shielded against splashing when being removed from the deck floor level to the derrick floor or the like.

The lower member or pipe P is of the largest diameter and has an outwardly flaring lower end portion 10 fitting slidably into the well casing 0. The second pipe or member M is p ovided adjacent its lower end with a surrounding ring I l welded or otherwise engaged with the pipe or member M. After the lower end portion of the pipe or member M has been inserted into the upper end portion of the pipe or member P, another ring I2 is inserted into the upper end portion of the pipe or member P, and is secured therein adjacent its upper end by welding or by any other preferred means.

An elongated tubular head H has a reduced lower or inserted end portion l4 threading, as at It, into the upper portion of the pipe or member M so that the bore it of the head H constitutes a continuation of the bore I! of the pipe or member M.

The head I-I extends from above down through a sleeve l8 threading, as at l9, into the upper portion of the casing C and the intermediate portion 29 of the head H is of a diameter closely approaching the inner diameter of the sleeve member [8. The upper or outer portion 2| of the head .H is outwardly tapered from below so that the extent of downward movement of the head H into sleeve member I8 is limited by contact of said tapered or enlarged portion 2! with the outer end of the sleeve member 18.

The upper portion of the bore 16 of the head H is enlarged to provide a socket 22 and the intermediate portion 20 at the top part thereof is provided circumferentially therearound with a groove or channel 23, substantially semi-circular in cross section at all points. Carried by the sleeve member l8 are the elongated spring arms 24 disposed in a direction lengthwise of the member l8 and having their inner extremities attached, as 25, to the member H3. The outer or free extremities of the arms 25 carry the inwardly directed lugs 28 which freely pass through the openings 21 in the outer portion of the sleeve member 18 and which lugs have their outer parti-spherical extremities received in the groove or channel 23 to releasably hold the head H in applied or working position upon the sleeve member [8. The head H between the lower end portion [4 and the intermediate portion 20 is downwardly and inwardly tapered as at 2B and as the head H is applied the tapered portion 28 will force the lugs 26 outwardly against the tension of the spring arms 24 and when the groove or channel 23 aligns with the openings 21, the lugs 26 will engage within said groove or channel 23 and thus lock the head H in position.

A wiper head W of well known construction comprises a substantially cylindrical body 30 which is open on its upper end. A wiper bushing Si is located in the upper chamber 32 of the body 30 divided from a lower chamber 33 by a wall 3|, provided with a centrally located opening 35. The circumferential wall of the lower chamber 33 threads or otherwise engages within the socket 22 of the head H.

The lower chamber 33 is closed by a wall 36 provided with a central opening 31. The top of the upper chamber 32 of the wiper body 30 is closed by a screw cap 38 or the like provided with a central opening 39. A cable 40 extends through the three coaxial openings 35, 31 and 39, and the bailer B or other cable tool is secured to the cable 40 in the usual way.

When it is desired to remove the bailer or other tool, the head H and the parts carried therei by can be easily removed and, of course, be reapplied with equal facility. When it is desired to transfer the shield and wiper to another well, the sleeve member [8 can be readily removed. It is also to be apparent that the wiper W maintains clean the cable 40. When the bailer is removed it is drawn up entirely within the shield afforded by the members P and M.

When the bailer B or other tool is pulled up into the shield, the bailer or tool contacts from below the wall 36 which constitutes a bumper plate and as the pull on the cable 49 continues the head H will force outwardly the lugs 25 permitting the shield to be lifted with the bailer or tool out of the casing and lowered to the derrick floor for dumping" the bailer or such other operation desired according to the character of the tool. During this lifting and lowering move ment, the members P and M together with the head H provide an effective shield against splashing from the bailer or other tool.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a combined splash shield and cable wiper constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

We claim:

In a combined cable wiper and splash shield, including a well casing and a cable suspended bailer, a sleeve threaded into the top end of said casing, a head having a reduced intermediate portion removably engaged in said sleeve and having a longitudinal bore of a diameter slightly greater than that of said bailer, said head also having a counterbore in its upper end, a wiper head formed to provide an upper open top hollow portion and a lower hollow portion of a lesser diameter than that of the upper portion and disposed in threaded engagement with the said counterbore, the bottom of said lower portion constituting a bumper plate for said bailer, the first head having its lower end portion reduced to a lesser diameter than that of said intermediate portion, a sectional pipe having its upper end threaded onto the latter reduced portion and its lower end outwardly flared to prevent interference with the entry of the bailer when it is drawn upward of the casing, a packing housed within the upper portion of said wiper head, and a cover for the open end of the latter portion of the wiper head, the bottoms of the said upper and lower portions of the wiper head and said cover having aligned central apertures for the passage upwardly therethrough of the cable which also passes through the said packing in the said upper portion.

LAWRENCE B. COLLINS. CLINTON A. LANGSTAFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,821,096 Hicks et al. Sept. 1, 1931 2,071,197 Burns et a1 Feb. 16, 1937 2,097,016 Bowen Oct. 26, 1937 2,410,589 Segelhorst Nov. 5, 1946 

